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It's always good to teach your dog how to let you know when he's hungry...

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<title>Daily Smile: Tuesday, February 3, 2026</title>

Daily Smile: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

 It&#039;s always good to teach your dog how to let you know when he&#039;s hungry...

Square Mike Brestovansky Headshot RGZ3736 Large

Michael Brestovansky

Government & Politics

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi focused on a “common sense approach” during his sixth State of the City address on Wednesday.

Throughout his speech and a subsequent press conference, Blangiardi reiterated that his administration is determined to reduce government red tape that slows down projects and ultimately costs residents money.

“Systemic barriers within government, at all levels, added over time, slow our progress and drive up costs for our residents,” Blangiardi said during his speech at Mission Memorial Auditorium. “I want to focus on how we are restructuring the underlying systems that hold us back.”

Throughout his speech, Blangiardi emphasized several commitments to constituents, such as:

“We will not [raise property taxes] under my watch”

When Blangiardi spoke about his $5.08 billion budget proposal — $133 million less than last year’s budget — he introduced earlier this month, he said the city will need to find ways to stretch its resources further as federal funds become unavailable.

The mayor said nearly $900 million in federal funds, primarily tied to Covid relief, are no longer available to the city. At the same time, scheduled wage increases for city employees’ collective bargaining units are projected to exceed Honolulu’s economic growth over the next four years.

Despite this, Blangiardi promised he will not raise property taxes to make up the funding shortfall. Instead, he said the city will adopt AI tools throughout its departments so that employees can work more efficiently.

“We are focused on implementing AI that can handle repetitive assignments, manual data entry, and routine calls, so that our employees can focus on the work that requires a human touch,” Blangiardi said, adding that an AI system already handles about 40% of routine calls to the Department of Customer Services.

Blangiardi said the Honolulu Police Department is also investigating the possibility of using AI to help officers write reports faster.

[{"type":"text","text":"This segued into another promise:"}]

“There will be no AI-related job cuts here while I am mayor”

Blangiardi said the adoption of AI is not intended to reduce jobs, but reduce waste.

“When we cut waste, we work faster,” the mayor said. “And when we work faster, we lower costs — for everyone.”

Blangiardi repeatedly emphasized the need for modernization throughout the city’s departments. He highlighted the Department of Planning and Permitting’s rollout last year of HNL Build, the department’s new permitting software — which, he added, allowed DPP to clear “a record $3.3 billion worth of construction permits” last year.

“Modernization only works if the people using new systems feel comfortable doing so,” Blangiardi said. “Even if we install the most advanced software available on the best machines we can buy, we accomplish nothing if our employees don’t know how to use it … Every day one of our departments clings to an outdated process is another day families spend waiting.”

“I made a commitment — one I still believe in — to not locate O‘ahu’s next landfill on the Wai‘anae Coast”

Blangiardi spoke at length about the city’s need for a new landfill as the Waimānalo Gulch landfill approaches its capacity. He later told reporters at a press conference that his administration started the process of looking for potential sites years ago, but the Red Hill fuel spill changed everything.

After Red Hill, Blangiardi said, nobody would entertain the notion of a landfill located above an aquifer, which excluded most of the potential sites his administration identified.

“O‘ahu must have a landfill and we have no more stones to turn over,” Blangiardi said. “Right now, we are out of options except the one I reject: another landfill on the Wai‘anae Coast.”

Blangiardi urged state lawmakers to help by changing state laws to allow facilities to be built above aquifers. He later told reporters that people accept high rises and gas stations being built above aquifers because of collective faith in modern technology to protect the aquifer.

The mayor also said that, if he had his way, the landfill would be built in Wahiawā, a proposal that has drawn considerable controversy over the years.

Beyond his explicit commitments, Blangiardi also discussed various policy proposals to take effect throughout the near future, such as:

The full text of Blangiardi’s speech can be read 

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Blangiardispeech2 16x9

<title>The promises of Rick Blangiardi</title>

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi made several promises during his sixth State of the City address on Wednesday.

The promises of Rick Blangiardi

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta Headshot

Kelli Shiroma Braiotta

Food & Dining

, remembers tinkering with his family’s banana bread recipe back in 2021.

“To our family, banana bread and Hawaiʻi go hand in hand,” he says. “Makua Banana Bread Co. was inspired by our family trips to Hawai

i (while growing up). Our favorite Island memories were the ones surrounded by family, exploring the islands, and always trying to find the best banana bread.”

He explains that he launched Makua Banana Bread Co. in pursuit of “baking the perfect banana bread loaf.”

“We are lucky to have grandparents and parents who have an entrepreneurial spirit and a love for baking,” he says. “Baking is a love language in our family, and food and baked goods are always at the center of our gatherings.

“‘Makua’ in the Hawaiian language means ‘parent,’ which has a strong connection to family,” he adds. “We named our business Makua Banana Bread in honor of the relatives who helped shape who we are today. Banana bread brings a lot of people joy, and often reminds them of loved ones and childhood memories.”

 location, the business sold its banana bread at farmers markets and events across O

ahu with its VW bus, according to Murray. Even after the business expanded and opened its Haleʻiwa shack, it kept its VW bus as a fun photo opportunity for visiting customers.

The business currently offers three flavors of banana bread — classic, chocolate chip and mochi. The latter is the newest flavor, and is made with mochiko rice flour, resulting in a soft, chewy, mochi-style texture.

“Our moist and dense classic banana bread is always a favorite, and our chocolate chip banana bread builds on the classic flavor with the perfect amount of chocolate sweetness,” Murray says. “Our mochi banana bread is a unique twist on traditional banana bread; we love that it offers a different take on a familiar classic.”

Customers can also order banana bread online and have it shipped across the United States, according to Murray. Mainland orders are baked and shipped Monday through Wednesday with guaranteed two-day delivery from the ship date; Murray notes that the business offers free shipping on Mainland orders of $100 or more.

“We always bake and ship on the same day; (our product is) always fresh, never frozen,” he says. “Hawaiian Island orders are shipped Monday through Friday with next-day delivery from the ship date.”

Orders for the business’s mochi banana bread only open once a month, since the product is a more limited item.

“People love when we release it for online shipping; it’s one of our best sellers,” Murray says. “Because it’s a small-batch item, we release it during a short window and then close orders until the next month.”

Orders for mochi banana bread are open through March 23 at 11:59 p.m., and everything will be baked fresh and shipped on March 24. 

Murray says that the community has been one of the factors that makes the business special, and that they love being part of individuals’ North Shore experience.

“For many customers, stopping by for banana bread has become a tradition when they visit Hawaiʻi,” he says. “It has been incredible to see our banana bread travel to homes across the country, and we are grateful for everyone who supports us both locally and from afar. We want to use our banana bread to help other families and friends create similar fun and adventurous memories together. At the end of the day, what’s more important than spending time with your family and loved ones?”

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Makua Banana Bread manager 031826

<title>Makua Banana Bread’s next “mochi drop” is coming up</title>

Orders for the business’s small-batch mochi banana bread only open once a month since it’s a limited item. The Haleʻiwa-based business also offers classic and chocolate chip banana bread, which can be ordered in-person or online.

Makua Banana Bread’s next “mochi drop” is coming up

Christian Shimabuku Headshot

Christian Shimabuku

Sports

University of Hawai‘i men's volleyball coach Charlie Wade noticed something odd about his team the last time the Rainbow Warriors took the floor, a four-set win over Lewis to close out the 

A turnstile crowd of 3,336 was on hand to watch the Rainbow Warriors finish out the weekend. The match between the 'Bows and the Flyers, originally set for Friday, was rescheduled due to heavy rain and wind across the Hawaiian Islands. UH was swept on Saturday night by 

 and labored through its first set on Sunday, which Lewis took 25-21. 

"We looked labored and didn't look joyful," Wade said of the way his team opened up Sunday's match. "I think that these guys, representing the state and playing in front of these crowds means a lot. We have built something that is really unique, globally, in volleyball. I think these guys, sometimes that pressure can catch up, and it's like we just weren't playing our style, our way, like we were trying to please the fans, they're coming off the loss the night before. 

"I just wanted to remind them this is the best time of your life, and you're here playing the sport that you love with your best friends and in an unbelievable environment. And let's find the joy. It should be joyful, and get out there and just free it up and get after it. There's nothing coming at us tactically that we don't understand. And it's just like, let's get after it and go back and let's have some smiles. I thought they responded really well."

The night before, the Rainbow Warriors were outclassed by UCLA, losing in straight sets. Despite the turbulent weather, a turnstile crowd of 8,927 showed up for the 'Bows. Hawai‘i went 2-1 at the OUTRIGGER Invitational, exiting the weekend 17-3. If Hawai‘i wants to win its first national championship since 2022, it will have to find a way to defeat the Bruins in all likelihood. 

"I think just understanding, like as a team, what to do in big moments and then later sets," junior setter and floor captain Tread Rosenthal said of the weekend's takeaways. "The first two sets (against UCLA), we go up early and just can't really maintain that performance level. And then the third set, we were right there with them, and just made a few dumb plays late to let him take control. So, I think just consistency in our play and understanding the moment."

After hosting the country's premier multi-team event, the Rainbow Warriors shift their attention to Big West Conference play. All six teams in the conference are ranked in the top 20 nationally, promising to be a five-week gauntlet for all involved. 

Hawai‘i will begin its conference slate with archnemesis Long Beach State, the 2025 national champions. The Rainbow Warriors, who travel to Long beach every other year as part of the Big West rotation, have not beaten The Beach at the Walter Pyramid since 2015. The 'Bows will have two chances this week to try to do so on Friday and Saturday in a pair of matches that begin at 4 p.m. HST. 

"I'm excited," Rosenthal said. "Definitely some leftover juice from last year, and they're gonna want to beat us in their home. So it's just kind of play our game once we go there, don't get too focused on what they're doing and stress ourselves."

Hawaii mens volleyball 031826

<title>Hawai‘i men's volleyball opens up Big West play at archnemesis Long Beach State</title>

The Beach is ranked No. 2 in the country, while the Rainbow Warriors are ranked third in the AVCA national collegiate men's volleyball poll.

Hawai‘i men's volleyball opens up Big West play at archnemesis Long Beach State

“I was struggling to find the food that I was raised eating,” he says. “Shawarmas, falafels and kebabs have been my favorites. I had to cook this kind of food for myself every day, and also share with my coworkers at my old job.”

After the positive feedback he received, Askar decided to start his own business — called Middle Eats — and popped up weekly at the Honolulu Farmers Market in June 2020.

“(I wanted to) share my food and culture with the local community,” he says. “Even though I was stressed and scared that I wouldn’t do well and wasn’t really expecting much, I surprisingly sold out in 90 minutes on my first day. This was the moment when I found my new purpose — feeding people healthy food and flavors straight from the Middle East. They (these flavors) can’t be found anywhere else on this island.

“The goal was to pick different flavors from different parts of that region in one bite; that’s why I called the business ‘Middle Eats,’” he adds.

Since 2020, Middle Eats has popped up at farmers markets in Mililani, Kailua and Kapi

olani Community College, according to Askar. Around two years ago, the eatery opened its first location on Merchant Street.

“It’s a new restaurant concept called a virtual kitchen,” he explains. “People can place their order from our website, and come pick it up as a curbside option or via delivery.”

Toward the end of January, the business opened its physical location within the 

The business features a variety of wraps, rice bowls, dips, salads and side dishes.

“Our falafel, lamb kofta and shawarma brisket are definitely musts to start with, if you’re visiting us for the first time,” Askar says. “They all come with our housemade sauces like hummus, green tahini and baba ghanoush, which take our flavors to the next level.”

[{"type":"text","text":"He adds that everything is made to order to ensure maximum freshness."}]

The business’s lamb kofta are made from 100% Halal ground lamb patties with house kofta seasoning. Meanwhile, the shawarma brisket features USDA Prime braised beef brisket with the eatery’s special shawarma seasoning.

Wraps are made with footlong toasted lavosh bread, while rice bowls include cardamom basmati rice.

The business’s chicken kebabs and housemade falafel are especially flavorful when paired with its creamy, roasted garlic hummus and green tahini dip.

If you want something unique, opt for Middle Eats’ Egyptian Koshary ($16). This dish features an authentic taste of Egypt’s popular vegan street food. It’s loaded with basmati rice, brown lentils, macaroni spaghetti, vermicelli, seasoned chickpeas and salsa. It’s finished with crispy onions on top.

Askar says he’s excited for the business’s new spot, and encourages first-time customers to give them a try.

“It’s (this new location) part of our expansion plan in Hawaiʻi (to have) six stores across the Islands in the next three years,” he says. “We hope to get the support we need from the local community to come and try our food that is healthy and authentic, filling and delicious.”

Middle Eats chef 031326

<title>Middle Eats brings its authentic flavors to Keʻeaumoku</title>

Middle Eats features a variety of Middle Eastern dishes, ranging from hummus and falafel to kebabs and shawarma. The business recently opened within Midtown Eats food hall, located at The Park on Keʻeaumoku.

Middle Eats brings its authentic flavors to Keʻeaumoku

Lopaka and Tanya Kapanui

Lopaka Kapanui and Tanya Kapanui

Hawaii History

Columnists

Looking back at Honolulu’s past, one might remember the chinaware, toys, and curios sold at Iida Store on the corner of Nu‘uanu Avenue and Beretania Street. The original owner, Masukitchi Iida, came from Japan in 1897 to open a branch of his family’s store, which was first located on Mauna Kea Street and then moved to the Nu‘uanu and Beretania corner in 1919.

On the other end of the block stood the Princess Theater. One of Honolulu’s grandest early movie houses, the Princess showcased silent films with live organ music before transitioning to talkies and later Cinerama. For decades, it drew locals and servicemen to its entertainment venue with films, live orchestra presentations, and occasional stage shows and concerts.

In 1930, a Hawai‘i newspaper printed a strange story. At midnight, a policeman had just finished his beat in the Downtown district and was making his way home. As he approached the corner of Kukui and Fort Street, something made him stop. While he stood on the corner, out of the darkness emerged a procession of men dressed in white. The silent parade moved past the policeman quietly without acknowledging his presence. There were too many to count, but what stood out even more than their ghostly countenance was the sight of a large, white dog leading the way. The policeman believed the spirit to be none other than Kū‘īlioloa, a demigod who could assume the form of a man or dog.

The article stated that the policeman was the stepfather of a prominent Hilo citizen, which seemed to lend some legitimacy to his story. There was no follow-up, and life went on, as usual. Honolulu evolved, and so did the district. Business at Iida Store grew, allowing them to relocate to Ala Moana Center, while the changing times led to the closure of the once-vibrant Princess Theater. Bordered by Kukui, Fort, and Beretania Streets and Nu‘uanu Avenue, the area known as “Block G” became the focus of Honolulu’s planned revitalization.

Honolulu’s business center was expanding, and as with any growing city, housing seems to always be at the top of the list of urgent needs. City planners wanted a way to breathe new life into the Downtown Honolulu district, and at the same time, add more living space. In 1970, the City issued a notice inviting firms interested in developing Block G to submit applications. 

In 1973, after five years of back-and-forth with the city and reportedly “thousands” of stumbling blocks, the Kukui Plaza condominium project finally got the green light. Plans included twin towers soaring to 35 stories each, containing 908 apartments, with nearly a quarter designated for sale to families of moderate income. Between the towers would be a five-story parking garage and a two-acre recreation area. The completion date was estimated to be December 1, 1975.

Many construction projects of this scale experience a few setbacks and delays, and this was no exception. But when Kukui Plaza finally opened in 1976, it was one of the first residential developments in the business center of Honolulu.

Today, Kukui Plaza stands as a distinctive residential landmark at the edge of Downtown and Chinatown. Its residents are a mix of longtime local families, working professionals, retirees, and some investors and renters. But through its layered history, the stories remain.

A woman who used to work at the shopping center across the street said that she once saw a large dog in the area. At first, I nodded and smiled, thinking she saw a large stray or an escaped pet. But her expression was full of wonder as she described coming out of the short lane next to Long’s Drugs. She just turned left onto Kukui Street when she saw a dog crossing diagonally in front of her, but as it got closer, it grew bigger. And bigger.

“By the time it got right in front of me, it was as big as my car!” she said.

The figure came from the corner near the intersection of Fort Street, walked in front of the woman’s car, onto the sidewalk, to the parking ramp, and then seemed to disappear as it walked toward the building. She laughed as she said it was late and she was tired, but she knew she wasn’t delirious.

I came across the policeman’s story a few years after hearing the woman’s tale, but I still wonder whether it was the same ghostly dog. I also wonder if anyone else has seen this mysterious animal.

Kukui Plaza Large

<title>The ghost dog at Kukui Plaza</title>

Sightings, decades apart, of a ghostly dog suggest that an enduring presence roams the area of Downtown Honolulu that now houses Kukui Plaza.

The ghost dog at Kukui Plaza

AKINA portrait 2

Keliʻi Akina

Viewpoints

When it comes to the future of the Honolulu rail, it feels like we’re on a runaway train — pun intended.

The Skyline project has blown way past its construction deadlines and cost estimates, and there’s little evidence that anyone is fully in control.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that at some point, it’s going to be up to the public to hit the brakes and put things back on track.

 that the fiscal 2027 budget for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, which manages the rail project, will be 9.5% greater than the current budget, clocking in at $1.07 billion for combined operating and capital costs.

When the annual budget of a project plagued by spending issues and disappointing ridership numbers breaks through the $1 billion mark, that’s kind of a bright red-flag moment, wouldn’t you say?

Making matters worse, city officials are now considering extending the rail several more miles through O‘ahu’s urban core from its current planned end point in Kaka‘ako to the University of Hawai‘i in Mānoa. Yes, really.

Perhaps it’s time O‘ahu voters were given a chance to weigh in on these decisions about rail. I think the chances are good that the public vote that authorized the rail project way back in 2008 might have turned out differently if we could have seen where it stands now.

Even back then, the Honolulu rail proposal squeaked by with just a 53% approval rating, since many people were already aware that public rail projects virtually never finish on time and within budget.

Now, after so many problems and with so many questions still hanging over the Honolulu rail project, Hawai‘i residents are rightfully getting restless. It is obvious that we are in for a long-term financial obligation that we can ill afford, whether the train line is extended or not.

I know holding elections is no small matter, but with that in mind, I encourage our policymakers to consider whether major decisions regarding this widely acknowledged boondoggle should be put to a public vote. We couldn’t see the future back in 2008, but we certainly know what to expect now.

Reprinted with permission from the Oct. 11, 2025 "Presidentʻs Corner" of 

10 11 25 rail cartoon 1

<title>Community Voices: Rail is a fail; who’s going to hit the brakes?</title>

We don't know yet just how late and over budget the Honolulu Skyline rail system will be. We do know that its annual budget is growing by nearly 10% a year and city officials are talking about any number of rail extensions. Maybe it's time to let the public drive this train and put such decisions to a vote.

Daily Smile: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

ASD Staff

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Daily Smile: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Authors

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